Group working to bring new fire station to East Whiteland

This artist’s rendition shows the new East Whiteland Fire Co. station will replace the current one built in 1958, if enough money can be raised. Photo courtesy of Friends of East Whiteland Fire and Ambulance

After five years of planning by a group of dedicated volunteers, the final push is on to build a new East Whiteland Fire Co. station.

Formed in 2007, the Friends of East Whiteland Fire and Ambulance, or FEWFA, has operated with a single purpose – to replace the 54-year-old station that ironically doesn’t even meet current fire codes.

“Our facility is way outdated and it’s in the wrong location,” FEWFA committee member Joe Rubino said. “This is long overdue.”

After the organization came together at the request of East Whiteland Fire Co. president Gary Sheridan, a feasibility study was conducted to pinpoint optimal functional details and location, the latter being the southwest corner of Mill Lane and Route 401. An architect has completed the plans, and now an intensive effort to raise the necessary $5 million is under way.

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To take its case to the public, FEWFA will hold two information sessions at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Malvern this week. One, including cocktails and refreshments, will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, and a complimentary breakfast meeting will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

“We want everyone to understand what we’re doing and why, and we want to answer all of their questions,” FEWFA committee member Eric Light said.

As part of its fund-raising effort, the organization is going to the township’s business community. Most of its members are business people themselves.

“All of us that are employers in this community recognize the importance of our volunteer fire company,” said committee member and Liberty Property Trust Chief Operating Officer Rob Fenza. “They respond to fires, vehicle accidents, to our employees’ needs for ambulance services, etcetera. We see that it’s more than appropriate for our business leaders to step up and support their efforts to serve us.”

Committee members are going to businesses for face-to-face meetings. Part of their pitch is that while the fire company’s coverage area includes 5,000 residences, the township’s population explodes during business hours with thousands of commuting workers.

“We have people here that spend more time working than they spend at their homes outside the township,” said Light, who is also regional vice president for Chester County at Penn Liberty Bank. “The population changes dramatically during the day, and the fire company serves all of those people, too. That’s why we’re asking our local employers to help.”

In addition to the business effort, residents have many donation options, including inscribed bricks that start at $250.

“Resident participation in purchasing bricks is absolutely critical,” FEWFA committee member and Desmond General Manager Mike Chain said. “That is a huge piece of what we’re trying to do.”

The committee wants to make it clear how dire the need is for a new station. Built in 1958, the two-bay building is so cramped that equipment has to be parked outside. Equipment inside has to be removed whenever training occurs, and that still leaves a small space. Foundation and drainage issues have led to a multitude of problems that fire company personnel have had to battle.

“They have really taken one for the team by maintaining it as best they can, but they’ve gotten to the breaking point,” Light said.

While being significantly more energy efficient, the proposed six-bay station would be more centrally located and would better accommodate equipment. It also has large meeting spaces.

“It will offer something completely different for the community,” Fenza said. “It will allow much more interaction and engagement with school kids and residents.”

After years of hard work, organizers say they’re ready for the home stretch.

“We can see the daylight at the end of the tunnel,” Rubino said. “We’ll be shovel-ready by next spring. Now we’re at the last hurdle.”

For more information on FEWFA or to make a donation, log on to www.sta5tion.org.